No help with speeding drivers and trees was found Thursday by residents of a private road north of Tecumseh.

Residents of Aebersold Drive asked Lenawee County road commissioners for a second year in a row to send a tree-cutting crew to Tecumseh-Clinton Highway. They want trees removed that they say obstruct the view of traffic from the intersection of their drive.

The sight distance meets road commission rules for the speed limit. But residents said traffic is traveling too fast for them to safely pull out on Tecumseh-Clinton Highway.

“You can’t get in and out of your home,” said resident Linda Starks. “If you have a little icy day, you’d better stay home.”

There is little chance Michigan State Police would approve a lower speed limit than the 55 mph posted at the north city limits of Tecumseh, said road commission managing director Scott Merillat. The 45 mph limit inside the city would probably not meet state police criteria either, he said.

Cutting down three large cottonwood trees on the county road right of way would make the Aebersold Drive intersection safer, Warren Starks said.

“There is an obstruction and we’re asking you to remove it,” he said.

Merillat estimated it would cost $5,000 to $10,000 to remove the trees. Traffic control measures would be needed on the busy roadway and a guardrail would complicate the tree cutting, he said. The road commission’s priority is to remove trees that are a danger to public roadways and traffic, he said. The trees on Tecumseh-Clinton Highway are far enough away from the pavement to not be a hazard.

“We’re spending a lot of time right now with dead trees,” Merillat said. “That’s our biggest concern, trees falling on roads, trees falling on cars.”

Road commissioner Robert Emery said a large tree limb fell on a school bus this winter, the first such accident he is aware of in the county.

The road commission does not have money to properly maintain public roads, Emery said.

“We can’t expend money for the benefit of private property,” he said.

Road commission attorney Jeffrey Juby said state law prohibits the road commission from spending public money on projects to benefit private roads.

Road commission board chairman Stanley Wilson repeated advice he gave the residents last year. He suggested they get together and pool their money to hire a contractor. The road commission will issue a permit to allow the trees to be cut, he said.

Road commissioner Donald Isley said he agreed it is a frustrating situation for the Aebersold Drive residents, but public road money is not available to help.